Academic Performance Calculation

Methodology for measuring performance on Academic Performance.

This measure is based on performance on the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA) and mathematics—which is administered to students in grades three through eight and grade eleven—and how far the average student is from meeting the grade-level standard, or the "Distance from Standard" (DFS).

To calculate the DFS, each student's score is first compared to the “Standard Met” threshold for that grade level on the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments. Then, all distance results are averaged to produce a school- and student-group-level average scale score (the DFS). The results will show the needed improvement to bring the average student score to “Standard Met” or the extent to which the average student score meets or exceeds “Standard Met”.

Using scale scores, rather than reporting on the percent of students who performed at or above the “Standard Met”, provides a more comprehensive picture of how all students at the school are performing on the Smarter Balanced assessments.

More information regarding the DFS methodology is provided in the California School Dashboard Technical Guide (PDF).

Calculations

In the 2018 Dashboard, performance on this measure is determined by (1) the DFS for ELA or mathematics, and (2) whether results improved or declined between 2017 and 2018. Please note that there are two separate five-by-five colored tables for grades three through eight and grade eleven. However, schools that serve students in Kindergarten through grade twelve, as well as unified school districts, will receive a performance level (color) based on the five-by-five colored table adopted for grades three through eight.

Current Year DFS Formula* for Grades Three through Eight and Eleven

Sum of All DFS Scores on the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments

divided by

Total Number of Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments Test Takers.

*Specific inclusion and exclusion rules, such as continuous enrollment, are applied to determine the numerator and denominator. For the complete business rules, please view the California School Dashboard Technical Guide (PDF).

Difference from Prior Year DFS

Current Year DFS minus Prior Year DFS

Determining a Performance Level

Based on the current and prior year DFS, a performance level (or color) will be given for this measure. The performance level is determined by using a five-by-five colored grid.

Example: Little League Elementary School has the following ELA academic data:

In the current year, its DFS was +12.7 (i.e., 12.7 points above "Standard Met")

From the prior year to the current one, the DFS increased by 4 points.

Using the five-by-five grid for the ELA Academic Measure, we see that a DFS of +12.7 is considered "High" (see left column). Additionally, an increase of 4 points from the prior year falls into the "Increased" level (see top row). On the grid, "High" and "Increased" intersect at the Green performance level, which is the second highest level.

Performance Level

Declined Significantly

from Prior Year (by more than 15 points)

Declined

from Prior Year (by 3 to 15 points)

Maintained

from Prior Year (declined by less than 3 points or
increased by less than 3 points)